eBay acts against Bitcoin

eBay is the most popular online auction and marketplace in the world. Its first version was founded in the mid-nineties by Pierre Omidyar.

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eBay is the most popular online auction and marketplace in the world. Its first version was founded in the mid-nineties by Pierre Omidyar. Today there are a lot of eBay derivate shopping websites available in most countries around the world, controlled by PayPal and Ebay Enterprise.

It is no surprise that people regularly using the eBay platform to sell or purchase physical goods want to use Bitcoin as a payment.

Even though the idea that eBay could acceptbitcoins so far crypto-currency payments are forbidden.

Recently one eBay seller announced that his account was shut down for mentioning that he could accept digital currency as a payment.

“eBay shutdown my auction just because I mentioned I accept Bitcoin in my description” was published on /r/Bitcoin yesterday:

“So I listed an old phone I had laying around the house on eBay. I've been selling items on eBay since the late 90s. This auction had the option to pay with paypal. I just mentioned in the description that I also accept Bitcoin. And they shut the auction down and here's what they had to say:

Unsecure payment methods that don't ensure safe online shopping for both buyers and sellers aren't allowed on eBay. Because we are unable to verify whether the correct person receives payment, instant or point-to-point money transfer services are not allowed”.

Indeed, it’s an unpleasant situation. eBay have a strict and exact payment policy. Sellers can only use PayPal, ProPay, Skrill, Credit card or debit card processed through the seller's Internet merchant account. There is also an option of “Payment upon pickup” but it seems to be less popular.

“Not to be contrary, but they only mention in their terms of service that they will do this. Yes, even mentioning Bitcoin is grounds to have your auction closed and even your account revoked. And it's not just Bitcoin,” commented one of the /r/Bitcoin users.

Any unauthorized transactions or listings could badly effect both on sellers’ eBay and PayPal accounts:

To protect against the risk of liability, eBay has at times requested, and may continue to request, that PayPal restrict access to funds in a seller's PayPal account based on certain factors, including, but not limited to, selling history, seller performance, risk of the listing category, or the filing of an eBay Buyer Protection case. This may result in PayPal determining to restrict funds in your PayPal account in order to manage PayPal's risk exposure pursuant to PayPal policies.

It seems that this is not the first time Bitcoin users face the same problem.

However, we should remember – when in Rome do as Romans do, when on eBay you have to play by their rules or go home.